Article carrier



H. w. FORRER Feb. 25 1964 ARTICLE CARRIER s snee's-She:c 2

Filed May 15 1962 lNvENTOR' HOMER W- FORRER law/4% W l ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1964 H. w. FORRER ARTICLE CARRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 15, 1962 FIGA INVENTOR.

. Hom-:R w. FORRER BY 77% WMM ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1964 H. w. FORRER ARTICLE CARRIER QFiled May 15, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG INVENTOR.

HOMER w. FORRER "YW ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1964 H. w. FoRRl-:R

ARTICLE CARRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 15, 1962 RK m m ......w.w. f n n T 7 4 B "l "/n 6 .I Il l 5/ chf. n ..4 Illu... 7 4 6 F HOMER W. FORRER WW1/ZW. @19M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,122,265 ARTECLE CARRER Homer W. Ferrer, Atlanta, Ga., assigner to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of Ollio Filed May 15, 1962, Ser. No. @4,81% 4 Claims. (Cl. 22d-133) This invention relates to article carriers and more particularly to bottle carriers of the collapsible type which are commordy constructed of paperboard.

In carriers of this type, it is common practice to provide a locking notch in one or both ends of the bottom panel and to arrange for this notch to engage a cooperatinfY notch formed in a pair of vertically disposed riser panels wmch are integrally formed with the handle of the carrier and which are foldably joined respectively to the adjacent end panels of the carrier on each side of the handle. Such a construction is merely for the purpose of holding the carrier in set-up condition and necessarily requires the use of a certain amount of paperboard 'm order to provide an adequate locking arrangement.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved locking arrangement for an article carrier which requires a minimum of paperboard.

The invention in one form as applied to an article carrier having side and end wall panels and a bottom panel comprises a pair oi riser panels fold-ably joined respectively to the inner edge of the end panels at one end of the carrier, a locking tab struck out of at least one of the riser panels and folded downwardly, and a locking notch formed in the locking tab and disposed at a level to engage one end or" the bottom panel thereby to hold the carrier in set-up condition.

For a better understanding oi the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FG. l is a perspective View of a carrier embodying the invention; FIG. 2 is a side view oi the carrier depicted in FG. l; FIG. 3 is an end View of the carrier depicted in FIG. l; FIG. 4 is a plan view oi a blank from which a carrier is formed according to this invention; and in wmch FlGS. 5-8 inclusive depict progressive stages through which the blank oi FIG. 4 is passed in forming a carrier according to this invention.

llt/ith reference to the drawings and particularly with reference to FIGS. l and 4, the numerals 1 and 2 designate side walls o the carrier while the numerals 3, 4, S and 6 denote end panels. End panels 3 and d are foldably connected with side wall l along fold lines 7 and S respectively while end panels S and d are foldably connected with side wall 2 along fold lines 9 and it respectively. Foldably joined to the bottom edge il of side wall 1 is a bottom panel generally designated by the numeral 12 and which is provided with a medial fold line i3. Bottom panel 12 is foldably joined along the fold line i4 to the side panel 2. A notch lo is formed in bottom panel l2 at one end of medial line 13. Foldably joined along the fold line 16 to the end panel 3 is a riser panel in the form of medial partitioning support element 17. Similarly, riser panels in the form of medial partitioning support elements 1S, 19 and i@ are foldably joined along lines 2i, 22 and 2.3 to the end panels 5, 6 and 4, respectively.

The handle structure of the carton depicted in FlG.

4 is similar to that disclosed and claimed in Patent 2,537,452 and comprises two pairs of telescopically arranged panels designated in FIG. 4 by the numerals 24, 25, 26 and 2'?. The panels 24-27 are generally similar in their overall arrangement and, therefore, only one of such panels will be described in detail, it being deemed desirable to point out, however, that the handle panel 24 is ioldabiy joined to the handle panel 26 along the medial fold line 23 while the handle panel 25 is foldably joined to the handle panel 27 along the coincidental fold line 29. Panel 24 is separated from panel 25 along a cut line 3h while panel 26 is separated from panel 27 along a out line 3l which coincides with line Si?. The panel 2d may be defined by the points A, B, C, D, E and F so that the area enclosed by the lines connecting these points A-F defines the one handle panel 24 which is disposed in a ilat plane. Line A-B is a cut line separating handle panel 24 from end panel 3. Similarly, line C-D is a cut line separating partitioning strip 32 from an edge of handle panel 2d while line D-E is a cut line coinciding with line 3d which separates panel 24 from panel Z5. B-C is a fold line whereby the partitioning strip 32 is oldably connected with handle panel 24 while line G-l-l is a fold line along which the partitioning strip 32 is foldably joined with the side wall 2.

For the purpose oi enabling the carrier to be readily grasped by the hand of the person carrying it, a pair of apertures 33 and 3d are provided in handle panel 24.

in similar fashion hand hold apertures 36 and 37 are provided in handle panel .25 and hand hold apertures 3S and Se? are provided in handle panel 27. Flaps 36A, 37A, 35A and SA may be provided if desired, such elements being well known as cushioning elements.

As is disclosed in my above mentioned Patent 2,537,- 452, additional partitioning strips 4d, 4i and d2 are provided and are interrelated with the other elements as described in detail above in connection with partitioning strip 32.

The panel elements 24tand 2d are telescoped over panel elements 25 and Z7 when the carton is formed as will be described in detail hereinafter.

An auxiliary panel is provided in one of the handle panels, such as 26, instead of the hand gripping ilaps designated 36A, 37A, 38A and 39A in connection with panels Z4, 25' and 27. Such auxiliary panel is designated in the drawings by the numeral 43 and is separated from handle panel 26 along a cut line extending from the point designated I to point l and thence to points K and L. A perforated fold line designated by the nu meral 44 is provided whereby the auxiliary panel 43 may be folded downwardly.

ln accordance with this invention and for the purpose oi interconnecting bottom panel l2 with riser panels i7 and 31.3 to hold the carrier erect, a locking tab 45 is struck out oi riser panel 18 and is foldably joined thereto along line 45. When folded downwardly notch 47 in locking tab i5 engages notch i6 in bottom panel l2. While only one lookin0f tab is shown in the drawings it will be understood that a tab similar to tab 4S could be struck out of panel i7 and if desired out of panels i9 and Ztl.

The lirst folding operation in forming the carrier from the blank depicted in FlG. 4 is shown in FIG. 5 and is performed alter glue is applied to the blank as indicated by stippling in FlG. 4.

amazes Such a folding operation causes the end panels 3 and to swing over the side panels E. and 2 along the fold lines 7 and 9, respectively. Simultaneously, partitioning strip 32 swings over along the center portion 1A of side panel t along the fold line Gd-l. The partitioning strip 4l folds similarly. Since iti3 is a cut line and B-C is a fold line, the above describe folding operation causes the handle pan l 2d to overlap t' e strip Si?. partially as depicted in FlG. 5. In similar fashion the corresponding end panel S and handle panel 26 are simultaneously fol-ed over, it belg understood that the opening 33 coincides generally with tne gripping opening 36 and the auxiliary par nl i3 overlies and generally coincides with the hand gripping apertures 38 and 39. The inner ends of panels l' and l are secured to panels 26 and 2d, respectively, adj sont the fold lines lo and 2l by glue indicated by stripped areas in FIG. 4. Glue as indicated by stippiing in FIG. 4 on panels and 27 holds these parts in place as depicted in FlG. 5. Thereafter an application of is made as indicated by the stippled areas FIG. 5.

The next operation is depicted in FlG. 6 and is effected by simply folding the medial support riser elements i9 and Ztl over onto handle panels 2,7 25 along their fold lines 22 and 23, respectively, and are secured thereto. This step also comprises folding tde auxiliary panel d3 downwardly along the fold line lf-l, it being understood that the auxiliary panel d3 is maintained in the downwardly folded position due to glue indicated by stippling in FlG. 5. When so folded, the au ary p nel d3 is disposed at the approximate level of the paA on strips 32, di), di and 42, as will be apparent from llGS. l and 6. In addition panel d5 is folded downwardly along fold line 46 and is secured there by glue depicted in FIG. 5. Thereafter an application of glue indicated by stippling is made to the structure as shown in FlG. 6 and subsequently the arrangement is folded along the medial fold lines 22S and 29 to the position indicated in EEG. 7.

rEhe linal step in forming the carrier comprises the application of glue as indicated by stippled areas in FlG. 7 and the subsequent folding of side panel C and the adjoining side of bottom panel l?, along medial line 13 so that panel lC is secured to side wall panel 1B of the side wall l. The carrier then appears as depicted in FlG. S in l-ished but collapsed condition.

ln order to set the carrier up from the collapsed condition of FG. 8 to the condition depicted in FIG. 1, the side panels l and 2 drawn ap t while toe handle panels are moved toward the left as viewed in FIG. 8. Simultaneously the bottom panel i2 is ilattened out as the medial fold line l is moved upwardly. The notches 47 and 16 then come into engagement and serve to hold the carrier erect.

While l have shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, l do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An article carrier comprising a pair of handle panels foldably joined together along a medial fold line, a pair of riser panels foldably joined respectively to said handle panels along substantially coincidental fold lines disposed at the ends of said handle panels and generally normal to said medial fold line, a locking tab struclr out of at least one of said riser panels and foldably joined thereto along a fold line spaced from said medial fold line and disposed so as to accommodate folding of said locking tab out or" said riser panel and in a direction away from said medial fold line to a position of generally parallel face contacting relation therewith so as to form a downwardly protruding extension of said one riser panel, means for maintaining said locking tab in its folded position, and a locking notch formed on an edge of said locking tab which is remote f om the adjacent one of said coincidental fold lines said locking notch being remote from the fold line which joins said locking tab to the riser panel from which said locking tab is struck.

2. An article carrier comprising a pair of handle panels fo' ely joined together along a medial fold line, a pair of riser panels foldably joined respectively to said handle panels along substantially coincidental fold lines disposed at the ends of said handle panels and generally normal to said medial fold line, a locking tab struck out of one of riser panels and foldably joined thereto alongY a fold line spaced from said medial fold line and disposed so as to accommodate folding of said locking tab out of said riser panel and in a direction away from said medial fold line to a position of generally parallel face contacting relation therewith, means for maiA ining said locking tab in its folded position, a pair of end panels foldably joined respectively to said riser panels along said coincidental fold lines along portions thereof which are remote from said medial fold line, a pair of side wall panels foldably joined respectively to said end panels along fold lines which are spaced from and generally parallel to said coincidental fold lines, said one riser panel and its associated end panel extending a substantially shorter distance from said medial fold line than the bottom edge of the associated one of said side Walls, the length of said locking tab being such that the end thereof remote from said medial fold line is approximately the same distance therefrom as is the bottom edge of said one side wall.

3. An article carrier comprising a pair of handle panels foldably joined together along a medial fold line, a pair of riser panels foldably joined respectively to said handle panels along substantially coincidental fold lines disposed at the ends of said handle panels and generally normal to said medial fold line, a loosing tab struck out of one of said riser panels and foldably joined thereto along a fold line spaced from said medial fold line and disposed so as to accommodate folding of said locking tab out of said riser panel and in a direction away from said medial fold line to a position of generally parallel face contacting relation therewith, means for maintaining said locking tab in its folded position, a pair of end panels foldably joined respectively to said riser panels along said coincidental fold lines at portions thereof which are remote from said medial fold line, a pair of side wall panels foldably joined respectively to said end panels along fold lines which are spaced from and generally parallel to said coincidental fold lines, said one riser panel and its associated end panel extending a substantially shorter distance from said medial fold line than the bottom edge of the associated one of said side walls, the length of said locking tab being such that the end thereof remote from said medial fold line is approxiiately the saine distance therefrom as is the bottom edge of said one side wall, a bottom panel foldably joined to said bottom edge of said one side wall, and a Side wall panel foldably joined to the edge of said bottom wall which is remote from said one side wall.

An article carrier comprising a pair of handle panels foldably joined together along a medial fold line, a pair of riser panels foldably joined respectively to said handl panels along substantially coincidental fold lines disposed at the ends of said handle panels and generally normal to said medial fold line, a locking tab struck out of one of said riser panels and foldably joined thereto al ng a fold line spaced from said medial fold line and disposed so as to accommodate folding of said locking tab out of said riser panel and in a direction away from said medial fold line to a position of generally parallel face contacting relation therewith, means for maintaining said locking tab in its folded position, a pair of end panels foldably joined respectively to said riser panels along said coincidental fold lines at portions thereof which are remote from said medial fold line, a pair of edge of said one side Wall, the oher of said side Wall 10 3,037,661

5 panels extentding from said medial fold line a distance which is generally equivalent to the extent of said riser panels in a direction away from said medial fold line.

References Cied in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,065 Warren Dec. 5, 1939 2,537,615 Arneson lan. 9, 1951 2,776,672 Ferrer Ian. 1, 1957 Gish June 5, 1962 

1. AN ARTICLE CARRIER COMPRISING A PAIR OF HANDLE PANELS FOLDABLY JOINED TOGETHER ALONG A MEDIAL FOLD LINE, A PAIR OF RISER PANELS FOLDABLY JOINED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID HANDLE PANELS ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDENTAL FOLD LINES DISPOSED AT THE ENDS OF SAID HANDLE PANELS AND GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID MEDIAL FOLD LINE, A LOCKING TAB STRUCK OUT OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID RISER PANELS AND FOLDABLY JOINED THERETO ALONG A FOLD LINE SPACED FROM SAID MEDIAL FOLD LINE AND DISPOSED SO AS TO ACCOMMODATE FOLDING OF SAID LOCKING TAB OUT OF SAID RISER PANEL AND IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID MEDIAL FOLD LINE TO A POSITION OF GENERALLY PARALLEL FACE CONTACTING RELATION THEREWITH SO AS TO FORM A DOWNWARDLY PROTRUDING EXTENSION OF SAID ONE RISER PANEL, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID LOCKING TAB IN ITS FOLDED POSITION, AND A LOCKING NOTCH FORMED ON AN EDGE OF SAID LOCKING TAB WHICH IS REMOTE FROM THE ADJACENT ONE OF SAID COINCIDENTAL FOLD LINES AND SAID LOCKING NOTCH BEING REMOTE FROM THE FOLD LINE WHICH JOINS SAID LOCKING TAB TO THE RISER PANEL FROM WHICH SAID LOCKING TAB IS STRUCK. 